Either an iPhone or an Apple tablet

Jul 25, 2009 08:01 GMT  ·  By

It seems that Verizon Wireless is speeding up the deployment of its next-generation LTE network so as to get it ready for a commercial launch sometime during the first quarter of next year. The reason for this is reportedly the arrival of a new Apple iPod touch device on the market, which should get released on the carrier's upcoming network.

The fact that Verizon is working on the roll-out of LTE services is no mystery to anyone, yet the company was expected to make the 4G network available only in the second half of 2010, and not earlier. Even so, a recent report from techcrunch suggests that the launch has been accelerated so as to coincide with the release of Apple's device.

The mobile phone carrier is allegedly doing tests of LTE in some markets, with quite impressive results, it seems: up to 60 Mbps. The 4G network should deliver increased performance compared to the existing 3G ones, and Verizon is among the first to move toward it, using the Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology, unlike Sprint, which is already launching 4G in some markets using WiMAX.

According to techcrunch, the Verizon LTE network is very likely to offer connectivity to a fourth-generation iPhone too. While the currently existing iPhones come with GSM connectivity, thus not compatible with Verizon's CDMA network, but with AT&T's, the deal between Apple and AT&T is supposedly coming to an end, which means that Verizon might strike an iPhone agreement for itself – especially if it's an LTE-based device.

In addition, the long-rumored Apple tablet might be included in the equation as well. The latest reports point towards an early 2010 launch of the device, also in line with a possible Q1 2010 roll-out of Verizon's LTE. There are great chances that the tablet deal will prove real in the end, though it is expected to be only a data-based one, as the tablet does not come with a microphone.

Furthermore, rumors suggest that the tablet might not get subsidized, like the iPhone, though the network costs might be included in the price of the device. Also, customers could go for a month-to-month data-only plan, which means that the cost of the bills will also drop. One way or another, neither Verizon nor Apple unveiled any details on a possible such deal, so everything is subject to change.